Deepening our Chinese connections

Major Partnership Signing: Greenwood CapitalMelbourne celebrates Chinese New Year by signing a new major partner

TODAY marks the start of Chinese New Year with the arrival of the Fire Monkey under the Chinese Zodiac and Greenwood Capital as a new commercial partner of the Melbourne Football Club.

Greenwood Capital is an investment company based in Burwood with strong Chinese connections under the direction of Chairman Fu Jianping featuring a diverse portfolio including property, health centres, Australian food exports, and cultural exchange.

This partnership marks the second Chinese partner of the Melbourne Football Club following the signing of China Southern Airlines in 2014 as the first Chinese sponsor in the AFL. It was China Southern that introduced the Club to Greenwood Capital, reflecting the importance of relationships.

This was highlighted by Melbourne Football Club CEO Peter Jackson at the signing ceremony in January when he remarked, “Melbourne has always had a strong relationship with China from the New Gold Mountain during last century’s gold rush to the international students in recent times. We ensure that our engagement is built through cooperation and relationships rather than being purely transactional”.

Jackson further remarked that Greenwood Capital relies on relationships and believed “that as a partner of the Melbourne Football Club, we can assist Greenwood [to] develop further relationships with the broader Melbourne and Australian communities”.

The opportunity to further expand the Club’s work with local Chinese communities, through this partnership was further reinforced by Jackson when he suggested that it will, “not only raise the awareness but increase the interest of AFL and the Melbourne Football Club among Melbourne’s Chinese communities so that we can continue to represent all elements of this great city”.

This will be made easier through a partnership with WeChat (the world’s fastest growing social media application) and Chinese New Year activation planned for Chinatown this weekend.

Chinese New Year

On Sunday 14 February, Melbourne Football Club will be reunited with Dai Loong, the world’s longest parade dragon, when the Club celebrates Chinese New Year in Chinatown.

Returning for a second year, the Club will be stationed in the heart of Chinatown offering the chance to sharpen footy skills in a specially designed inflatable activity zone. There will be free balloons and ticket giveaways for round one through signing up to the Club’s WeChat account with special appearances from our mascots.

A perfect way to spend Valentine’s Day in the heart of the city celebrating Chinese New Year – This is Melbourne.